Control device



C. T. EVANS CONTROL DEVICE Nov. 29, I932.

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CONTROL DEVI CE Filed Dec. 19. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I cation without departing from the spirit Patented Nov. 29, 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE T. EVANS, OF WAUWATOSA,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CUTLER-HAMMER,

CONTROL DEVICE Application filed December 19, 1930. Serial No. 503,377.

This invention relates to improvements in control devices of the push button operated type.

Control systems of various t pes require control switches having a push utton operated contact element normally movable between given positions and adapted to be locked against movement into certain of such positions. Such control switches have heretofore been provided with locking means which required retention of the push button element in the position to be locked and rotation of such element to eflect locking thereof. It has been found that switches having looking means of this character were awkward to operate, and the present invention has among its objects to provide a push button control switch having improved locking means associated therewith which will overcome this objection.

Another object is to simplify and generally improve the construction and operation of push button switches of the aforesaid character.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of'modifi an scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a control device provided with a plurality of push button switches embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the push button switches shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the same in normal position.

Fig. 4. is'a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the push button switch in locked position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of thepush button switch shown in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of certain of the parts of the switch shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an adapter part employe in connection with one of the switches shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the same illustrate a control device including a plurality of control switches 10, 11 and 12, each of which is provided with an operating push button 13. aid switches are secured to the rear wall of an enclosing casing 14, and as hereinafter set forth each of said switches is provided with a movable contact element normally biased to one extreme position and movable into another extreme position by depression of its associated push button 13. In the embodiment illustrated it is assumed that it is necessary under certain conditions to lock the contact elements of certain of the switches, as forexample switches 10 and 12, in an intermediate position to prevent return thereof to' normal position, and for this purpose a locking ring 15 is associated with the push buttons of these switches.

Casing 14 is provided with a removable cover 16 and the locking rings 15 which are similarly constructed are rotatably mounted within openings in said cover and are arranged to receive their associated push buttons 13. Said locking rings are each provided with a corrugated grip portion 17 which projects outwardly beyond the face of cover 16, and as shown in Fig. 2 when the push buttons are in normal position the same project outwardly beyond the grip portions of their associated locking rings. As hereinafter set forth, the locking rings 15 are rotatable in opposite directions between given extreme positions and each is adapted in one extreme position to position its associated push button in an intermediate position and in the other extreme position to permit return of its associated push button to normal position.

The construction and operation of one of the locking rings will now be more fully described in connection with l igs. 3, 4 and 7 As shown in Fig. 3, locking ring 15 is provided adjacent its inner end with oppositely disposed projections 1818 and is held in a position wherein such projections engage the rear face of cover 16 by a ring shaped clip 19. Clip 19 is of the construction shown in Fig. 7, the same being provided with a ring shaped body portion 20 having a project ing flange 21 .on one end thereof and oppositely disposed projecting ears 22 on' the opposite end thereof. Clip 19 is arranged within the opening for the locking ringin cover 16 and the flange 21 thereof seats within a counterbore in the outer face of said cover while the ears 22 thereof are bent inwardly into oppositely disposed recesses 23-23 (Fig. 7) on the inner end of locking'ring .15.

As shown in Fig. 7 the inner end of looking ring 15' is shaped to provide a pair of oppositely disposed helical cam surfaces 24-24 and the push button 13 is provided with a .pair of oppositely disposed projections 25-25 to be engaged by said cam surfaces. As is apparent, upon rotation of locking ring 15 in one direction through a given angle the cam surfaces 24-24 thereof are adapted to ride over the projections 25-25 on the push button 13 to effect inward, movement of said push button with respect to said ring, and rotation of said locking rin in an opposite direction through such ang e permits the push button to move outwardly towards normal position.

In the embodiment illustrated the cam surfaces 2424 are of such height as to move the push button 13 to a position wherein its associa-ted contact element occupies an interme- 'diate position, and as shown in Fig. 4 push button 13 is then substantially flush with the outer end of locking ring 15 to indicate that the contact element occupies its intermediate position and to also preventaccidental depression of said push button beyond suc position. However, as is apparent, the cam surfaces 24-24 can be designed to effect full inward movement of the push button 13.

shown in Fig. 7 the high ends of cam sur aces 24-24 terminate adjacent a pair of diametrically j disposed shallow 26-26 on the inner end of locking ring 15. Said recesses are adapted to receive the projections 25-25 on push button. 13, and as is apparent when said projections are in engage-ment with said recesses the locking ring 15 is yieldingly held against rotationfrom a position wherein the same locks the push button 13 against return from an intermediate position to normal position.

The above described locking ring may be used in connection with push button switchesof various. types, as for example a switch of" the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The switch illustrated in these figures is provided with a rectangular insulating base 27 having aprojection 28 thereon which is provided with av recess 29 for receiving the inner end of push button 13, such recess having a contour corresponding to the lower end of said push button. Push button 13 is slidable within the recess 29 and is biased to'move recesses an intermediate inner end of said recess. To'limit inward movement of push button 13 the lower end thereof is recessed on opposite sides to provide shoulders for engaging the face of projection 28, one of said shoulders being illustrated at 32 in Fig. 7i Also as shown in Fig. 7 projection 28'on base 27 is provided with oppositely disposed stop projections33 which are adapted to cooperate with oppositely disposed radial projections 34-34 on the inner end of locking ring 15 to prevent rotation of said locking ring in one direction'beyond the position wherein the push button 13 is released and in an opposite direction beyond the position wherein said push button is'locked in its intermediate position.

As shown in Fig. 6 push button 13 has a pin 36 fixed thereto which extends through an opening in the wall 31 of insulating base 27 into a recess 37 in the rear face of said base. The inner end of pin 36 has a pair of bridging contacts 38-39 slidably mounted thereon, said contacts being arranged between a head 40 on the inner end of said pin and'a sleeve 41 which surrounds said pin and abuts the inner end of push button 13. Bridgit normal position the inner end of sleeve 41 moves contact 38 out of engagement with stationary contacts 43-43 and upon full'inward movement of said push button bridging contact 39 is yieldingly held in engagement with a pair of down stationary contacts 44 under 7 the action of spring 42, one of said latter contacts being illustrated in Fig. 6. The statlonary contacts are clamped against shoulders formed within recess 37, by terminal devices 45 which are located at the corners of base 27 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

As is apparent, the switch shown Fig. 5

may be provided with stationary contacts to be bridged whenjthe push button is held in '1 position by the locking ring 15. I Also as is apparent, either the up stationary contacts 43 or the down stationary contacts 44 may be omitted if desired.

The switch 11 illustrated in Fig. 2 is of the type illustrated in Figs. 5 and: 6, but does not require locking in an intermediate posi- .-tion as do the switches 10 and 12. It is desired to desin'n the device shown in Fig. 2

so that the switches 10, 11' and 12 are interchangeable, and for this purpose the open ings in cover 16 corresponding to the several switches are of the same diameter, and an adapter sleeve 46 is mounted upon cover 16 to receive the push button 13 of switch 11.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 adapter sleeve 46 is provided with oppositely disposed projections 47 on the inner end thereof for engaging the rear face of cover 16 and the, same is provided with a corrugated grip ortion 48 which projects outwardly beyon the face of said cover and is of the same shape as the grip portion 17 on locking ring 1.5. Adapter sleeve 46 is secured to the cover 16 in the same manner as are the locking rings 15 by a clip 19 of the construction shown in Fig. 7. The cars 22 of said clip are bent inwardly into recesses 49 on the inner end of adapter sleeves and the'sides of said recesses are arranged to engage the stop projections 33 on the insulating base 27 of switch 11 to prevent rotation of said sleeve with respect to its associated push button 13.

The device shown in Fi s. 1 and 2 is provided with a plate 50 whic is secured to the front face of cover 16 and is provided with legends for indicating the function of the switches 10, 11 and 12. Also as is shown in Fig. 1 the locking rings and plate 50 may be provided with markings for indicating the position of said locking rin lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. The combination with an electric control device having a rcciprocable operating member provided with an operating push button and biased towards a given normal position, of locking mechanism associated with said operating member including a rotatable part adapted upon a given angular movement to move said operating member into another position and to lock the same against return to normal position. I

2. The combination with an electric control device having a reciprocable operating member provided with an operating push button and biased towards a given normal position, of locking mechanism associated with said operating member including a rotatable part movable from one extreme position into another extreme position to move said operating member out of normal position and to lock the same against return to such position, said )art when moved into its latter extreme position being yieldingly held against rotation out of such position.

3. The combination with an electric control device having a rcciprocable o )erating member including an operating push button and biased towards a given normal position, of locking mechanism associated with said operating member including a sleeve surrounding said operating member and rotatable with respect thereto, said operating member and said sleeve. having cooperating surfaces providing for movement of said op: erating member out of normal position upon rotation of said slce in one direction.

4. The combination with an electric control device having a reciprocable operating member provided with an operating push button andv biased towards a given normal position, of locking mechanism associated with said operating push button including a sleeve surroum'ling said push button and rotatable with respect thereto, said push button and said sleeve having cooperating surfaces adapted upon movement of said sleeve from one extreme position into another extreme position to move said operating member out of normal position, said surfaces being also adapted to cooperate to yieldingly hold said sleeve in its last mentioned extreme position to thereby lock said operating member against return to normal position.

5. The combination with an electric control device having a reciprocable operating member biased towards a given normal position. of locking mechanism associated with said operating member including a sleeve surroundin said member and rotatable with respect t ereto, said sleeve having cam surfaces thereon adapted to cooperate with projections upon said operating member to move the latter out of normal position upon rotation of said sleeve in one direction and said operating member having a push button operating part normally projecting beyond said sleeve.

6. The combination with a control switch including a push button operating switch element biased towards one extreme position and movable upon depression of its associated push button into an opposite extreme position, of a sleeve surrounding the push button of said switch element and said sleeve being rotatable with respect to said push button to move said switch element out of normal position into an intermediate position and to lock the same against return to normal position.

7. The combination with a control switch including a push botton operated switch element biased towards one extreme position and movable upon depression of its push button into an opposite extreme position, of a sleeve surrounding the push button of said switch element and having cam surfaces on the inner end thereof to cooperate with projections upon the push button of said switch element, said cam surfaces being adapted upon rotation of said sleeve in one direction to engage the projections on said push button to depress the latter for positioning of said switch element in an intermediate position.

8. The combination with a control switch includin a ush button operated switch element biased towards extreme normal position and movable upon depression of its push .button into an opposite extreme position, of a sleeve surroundin said push button, the inner end of said s eeve being provided witha pair of oppositely dis osed helical cam surfaces to cooperate wit 0positely disposed projections upon the push utton of said switch element, said cam surfaces being adapted upon rotation of said tion and movable upon depression 0 its push button into an opposite extreme position, of an. enclosin casing for said switch and a. sleeve rotate ly mounted upon said casing and surrounding said push button, said sleeve being adapted upon a given angular movement to depress the ush button of said switch element to position said element in an intermediate position.

10. The combination with a control switch including a ush button switch element assume 12. In a control device, the combination with an enclosing ca having a removable cover, of .a plurality of interchangeable switches mounted within said casing, each of said switches having a push button operated switch element normally in one extreme position and movable upon depression of its push button into an opposite extreme position, a sleeve surrounding the ush button of each of said switches, said 5 eeves being mounted upon the cover of said casin and being interchangeable certain of sai sleeves being fixed against rotation and another being rotatable with respect to the push button of its associated element to move the latter out of normal position and to lock the same against return to such position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

. CLARENCE T. EVANS.

biased towar s one extreme position and movable by its push button into an op-,

posite extreme position, of an enclosing casing for said control switch having a remow able cover, a sleeve surrounding said push,

button and rotatably upon rotation of saidsleevein one d1rection to engage the ro ections on said push mounted upon said cover, said sleeve having cam surfaces'on the inner end thereof to cooperate with projec-v tions .upon the-push button of said switch element, said cam surfaces being adapted button to depress t e utter for positioning 1 of said switch element in an intermediate position. I v g 11. Theeombination with a control switch mcludin a push button operated'switch element iased towards one extreme position and movable upon depression of its push button into an oppositeextremefition,of an enclosing casing for said switch having a removable cover associated, therewith, a sleeve surrounding the push button of said switch element and rotatably mounted upon said casin said sleeve projecting beyond the face 0 said cover and having surfaces on the inner end thereof which are adapted to cooperate with projections u on said push button, said surfaces being a apted to co operate with said projections upon rotation of said sleeve from one extreme osition into another extreme position to dbpress said push button for. positioning of said switch element in an intermediate position, said surfaces being also adapted to cooperate with said projections to yieldingly hold said sleeve in its extreme positions. 

